Fried chicken for dinner? Scientists observed 107,000 women for 24 years and discovered what fried food really does to your heart

In the United States, scientists tracked more than 100,000 women aged between 59 and 79 for almost a quarter of a century. The study took place from 1993 to 2017, which is an exceptionally long time. Long enough for serious patterns in diet and health to emerge.

During this period, 31,588 women died. Of these, nearly 9,320 died from heart problems, more than 8,300 from cancer, and the rest from other causes. And through all this data, one thing stood out: more fried food in the diet meant a greater chance of premature death.

What else did the researchers actually find?

If someone ate one or more servings of fried food every day, they had an 8% higher risk of dying earlier than those who did not eat fried food. While 8% might not sound like much, when you look at the individual cases, things get more alarming.

If it was fried chicken, the risk of death rose to 13%, and for heart diseases as much as 12%. For fried fish and seafood, the risk of general death increased by 7%, and for heart diseases by 13%. So these are numbers not to be ignored, even if a serving of fried chicken seems so harmless.

What is meant by fried food?

We’re not just talking about chicken here. This includes French fries, fish sandwiches, fried clams, tortilla chips, tacos, and similar dishes prepared with lots of hot oil. Anything fried in oil at high heat, whether it’s sunflower, canola, or any other oil, counts as fried food. And there’s a lot of it, believe me…

When oil is heated to a high temperature—over 180 degrees Celsius—oxidation of fats occurs. This means that the good fats that the body can use turn into harmful ones. Harmful substances that the body finds very hard to process are also created in the process. Most of these are trans fats, which the body doesn’t recognize and therefore stores as waste, clogging the arteries and impairing organ function.

What does folk wisdom say?

There used to be no studies, but wisdom was passed down from generation to generation. Fried food was a special treat, enjoyed during holidays. Nowadays, such a “holiday” is almost every day. Think: how many people buy French fries, chicken nuggets, or maybe a burek for lunch?

Who is most affected by fried food?

According to the study, fried food is most commonly eaten by younger people, those with lower education and lower incomes, as well as smokers and those who are not physically active enough. This is important to know, because it shows that fried food is not just about taste, but is also linked to lifestyle.

Although the research mentioned at the beginning was conducted among American women, similar habits have been observed elsewhere—including here. It is estimated that on average we eat more than 60 kg of fried and processed food per year, which means such food is an increasingly common part of everyday diets.

What do scientists say?

Scientists say that fried food not only increases the risk of heart disease, but also of vascular inflammation, type 2 diabetes, and even certain types of cancer. One study, published in the journal The Lancet, showed that each additional daily serving of fried food increases the risk of heart attack by 6% and of obesity by 9%. And we know that obesity is linked to nearly all modern diseases.

What about alternatives to fried food?

A very useful and simple solution is baking in the oven with less oil or even using just hot air. Lately, air fryers, which cook food with hot air and not a drop of oil, have become increasingly popular. According to Consumer Reports, this method can significantly reduce the fat content in food—by as much as 70–80%—while the taste remains almost the same.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as much as 31% of all deaths worldwide are linked to poor dietary habits. Fried food is high on that list. If we replaced just one serving of fried food with something boiled, baked, or even raw each day, it could prevent thousands of premature deaths in the long run—both in the US and here.

Everyday advice

If you crave fried chicken, treat yourself to it once a month rather than once a week. When you eat it, let it be a special occasion, not a habit. Serve it with lots of vegetables, add garlic (which cleans arteries), or drink tea (hawthorn tea is recommended, as it has been used for centuries as a remedy for the heart and blood vessels).

Conclusion

Fried food may smell like home and comfort, but its long-term effects can be serious. It’s not about giving up every bite for life, but about understanding what we put into our bodies. As the old saying goes: What revives us briefly can bury us in the long term.

Health is not only a matter for doctors, but of everyday choices. Every bite counts.

Information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.